Creating hard standing...

popularfurball

popularfurball

Learning all the time
Jul 18, 2005
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North west
I would really like some form of hardstanding/mud free area around the shelter as its just going to get ruined when wet.

What are my options for things to use? Grass has worn out, I had thought of solid rubber mats, the mats with holes in, hardcore or some form of concrete?

Hardcore is logistically difficult - 100m from access point to field to field shelter - its a long walk with heavy wheelbarrows and no way a crane could deliver it.

Also prefer it to be on a budget, but need it to last with low maintenance costs. What would be best? My gravel is fast disappearing!!!!

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If its hard to get stuff like hardcore, slabs etc to the area, then I would go for mats with holes in, rubber ones will just sink.

We have slabbed area infront of ours, same as the stable floor
 
Can you get a local farmer to help get hardcore over to the shelter? If asked nicely, then most farmers are happy to help when they have a spare hour.

Otherwise - bedding like Easibed makes a very good dry surface. I used to tip all the wet bedding from the stables in our gateway, and it has made a very good firm surface.

Ali xx
 
Agree with above suggestions on both counts. Be nice to the farmer as hardware is the way to go but you need to dig out the area first. If you cant manage this, then we used straw one year in our gateways and just kept topping it up.
 
I hadn't thought of shavings... I might look at that. Its not really a problem as she wont go in it, but Id rather be safe than sorry - would also be nice to have an area where I can tie them up to practice picking feet up etc.

I wish I could get the hardcore, but there isnt road access to the field - road up there isnt suitable for HGV, and only just wide enough for a car to fit through - the other way (over stile) is a private driveway with footpath access only. I carried the bags of gravel, but it was AWFUL!!!!! Even OH was struggling by bag 8! (We had 15 bags)
 
I can get my car up there, but nothing bigger - plus a 100-150yd walk to field - cant get down the side of the next field to deliver it :mad:

I keep seeing piles of hardcore about - cant believe its so expensive when its everywhere!!!
 
Country_lad said:
Wood chip isnt too bad either if you can get it there. Most people are looking for places to dispose of it!
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There are so many building sites around here its unreal, I keep getting tempted to "borrow" some hardcore :p but one tub trug isnt going to go that far!!!!!! Its frustrating that so many people dont want it, yet I cant get it! I can get bales of wood chips from B&Q, but worried they might mulch in the wet??
 
Paving slabs would be the most permanent solution. Would give you that tie up area too. Small ones are light.

As to how to get them there, one a day for 14 days. :D Easy to lay one a day as well, that is how I plan to do my back garden as I am disabled. Spread the job out.

In the meantime, used bedding, I wish my yard would do that at the gates, but she says 'it looks messy'. Who cares when you are knee deep in mud.:D
 
Hahaha I was thinking about how jealous I was of you this morning KT!!!!! I was lugging bags of rubbish that had been dumped to the car - was destroying me!!! Still yet to go to the tip!!!!

The other thought I had was to dig a level trench (ground is a hole in front of stable) and fill it with pallets? And then pave over the top although not sure if pallets are safe for neddys to stand on? There strong and coated to not rot.

If I paved it could I just use soil to level the area first and then fill gaps with sand or do they need to be laid on anything specific?

I cant get a quad/trailer down the path next to field next door as car doesnt fit (tried it today :o) Its a pain in the bum!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Thanks for everyones help - I have it sorted hopefully!!!

The builders up the road have a mini digger and they are going to get the hardcore and dump it right outside the shelter for me wahoo! Hopefully today or Monday yay!

Thanks for everyones help!
 
Ask the builder nicely if he will dig out the area that you want hardcored so that it last longer! - if you just put down the hardcore without preparing the ground it may get "lost" in the mud.....
 
Glad you've got it sorted - I remember the mess we ended up with in front of our shelters before we moved to the back fields. I tried everything from wood chip to those expensive field mats - nowt worked!
I couldn't have hardcore due to nowty nosey neighbour - and it was the wettest summer ever!
Love your shelter btw - really smart!
 
happyhacker101 said:
Ask the builder nicely if he will dig out the area that you want hardcored so that it last longer! - if you just put down the hardcore without preparing the ground it may get "lost" in the mud.....
Click to expand...

I didnt know that!

I just planned to pour it on - will have about three bags (bulk bags) worth put down... Will it not just drop the level further digging it out? I need to to be raised up from current level as its pond-ing! lol

Thanks for everyones help :)
 
I only know what I was told which was to dig down to decent earth - ie below the clay and then pour in the hardcore and sand to even it out - they also put in a plastic membrane down before the hardcore and sand.

I've never tried just putting it down so dont know for sure what would happen but I think it "could" just disappear into the mud.
 
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